Sam Holmes is entering his third season as head coach of the Francis Marion University women's soccer program. In only two seasons, he has revived the program, and the 2025 squad has been picked to repeat as conference championship according to the 2025 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Last season (2024), he guided Francis Marion to a 12-3-4 record, conference's East Division crown, the conference tournament title, and the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2024 Patriot program, garnered a College Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches organization -- the 13th time in the past 22 seasons Francis Marion has earned that award.
In his first season at FMU, he led a resurgence in the Patriot program. He directed Francis Marion to an 8-6-4 mark, a second-place finish in the East Division standings, and an appearance in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. He received the school's Frankie Award for Head Coach of the Year at the 2024 awards gala, and his squad earned a College Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches organization.
Holmes owns a career coaching mark of 91-36-12 in eight seasons as a head coach.
Holmes came to FMU from Limestone University where he has been the head coach for the past six seasons. He compiled a 71-27-4 coaching mark and guided the Saints to three NCAA Division II National Tournament berths (2017, 2018, 2022).
Prior to this season, four of his five squads at Limestone earned United State Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. His squads produced a pair of All-Americans and 13 All-Region selections.
He was an assistant coach on the Limestone staff for three seasons before taking over the head coaching reigns in 2017.
He also served as an assistant coach at Minot State University in North Dakota for four seasons, during which time the Beavers registered 42 victories.
A native of Bexley, Kent, England, he earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Flagler College in 2008 and a master’s degree in management from Minot State in 2012.
Holmes is the seventh head coach in the history of the 29-year-old program. Francis Marion earned a pair of NCAA Division II National Tournament berths in 1998 and 2000. The Patriots competed as NCAA Division I independents from 2005 to 2015 before returning to Division II affiliation.
(8-2025)
